Perceptions of Telehealth in the United States: Are There Racial/Ethnic Differences?

Abstract

Introduction: Telehealth, a beneficial and safe option for in-person medical patient visits, has the potential to significantly improve patient health outcomes. While its use increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is limited research on the perception of telehealth compared with in-person care among different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. We aimed to investigate the relationship between race/ethnicity and the perception that telehealth is similar to in-person care. Methods: The study used the Health Information Nation Trends Survey Cycle 6, a nationally representative survey conducted between March and November 2022, as its primary data source. The analytic sample included 2,384 participants of age 18 years and older. The primary outcome, perceived telehealth equivalency, was measured as the self-reported perception that telehealth is equivalent to in-person care. Logistic regression examined the association between race/ethnicity and perceived telehealth equivalency, adjusting for several potential confounding factors. Results: The findings indicated that being non-Hispanic Black or African American, relative to non-Hispanic White, was significantly associated with the perception that telehealth is similar to in-person care (odds ratio [OR] = 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14-3.57, p = 0.016). High school graduates (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.02-3.25, p = 0.04) and those insured (OR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.29-6.91, p = 0.01) were significantly more likely to report a perception that telehealth is similar to in-person care. The different modalities, such as video or audio, were not significantly associated with perceived telehealth equivalency. Conclusions: These findings suggest that understanding demographic and contextual factors may help enhance telehealth acceptance and utilization and inform efforts to increase equitable access to health care.